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Abstract:

Formulations using tartaric compounds of the present invention in a low
sulfur, low ash and low phosphorous lubricant lower wear, and friction
and improves fuel economy.

Claims:

1. A low-sulfur, low-phosphorus, low-ash lubricant composition suitable
for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising:(a) an oil of
lubricating viscosity, and(b) a condensation product of a material
represented by formula I and an alcohol or amine having 1 to about 150
carbon atoms and combinations thereof; ##STR00006## wherein each R is
independently H, or a hydrocarbyl group, or wherein the R groups together
form a ring; and wherein if R is H, the condensation product is
optionally further functionalized by acylation or reaction with a boron
compound;wherein said lubricant composition has a sulfated ash value of
up to about 1.0, a phosphorus content of up to about 0.08 percent by
weight and a sulfur content of up to about 0.4 percent by weight.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the amount of the condensation
product is about 0.05 to about 5.0 percent by weight.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the amount of condensation product
is about 0.1 to about 2.0 percent by weight.

4. The composition of claim 2, wherein the amount of condensation product
is about 0.25 to about 1.25 percent by weight.

5. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a metal
dialkyldithiophosphate.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the metal dialkyldithiophosphate is
zinc dialkyldithiophosphate wherein at least about 50 percent of the
alkyl groups thereof are secondary alkyl groups.

7. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a dispersant.

8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the dispersant is a succinimide.

9. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one calcium
overbased detergent.

10. The composition of claim 9, wherein the calcium overbased detergent is
selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfonates, calcium
phenates, calcium salicylates, calcium salixarates and mixtures thereof.

11. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one
antioxidant.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the antioxidant is selected from
the group consisting of hindered phenols, aryl amines and mixtures
thereof.

13. The composition of claim 1, further comprising additional friction
modifiers other than (b).

14. The additional friction modifiers are selected from the group
consisting of glycerol monooleates, oleyl amides, diethanol fatty amines
and mixtures thereof.

15. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a defoamer.

16. A method of lubricating an internal combustion engine, comprising
supplying to said engine an oil of lubricating viscosity, and a
condensation product of a material represented by formula I and an
alcohol or amine having 1 to about 150 carbon atoms and combinations
thereof; ##STR00007## wherein in the product each R is independently H or
a hydrocarbyl group, or wherein the R groups together form a ring; or
wherein if R is H, then the resulting hydroxyl group is further
functionalized by acylation or reaction with a boron compound;wherein
said lubricant composition has a sulfated ash value of up to about 1.0, a
phosphorus content of up to about 0.08 percent by weight and a sulfur
content of up to about 0.4 percent by weight.

17. The method of making a lubricant composition comprising:(a) blending
an oil of lubricating viscosity and a condensation product of a material
represented by formula I and an alcohol or amine having 1 to about 150
carbon atoms and combinations thereof; ##STR00008## wherein in the
product each R is independently H or a hydrocarbyl group, or wherein the
R groups together form a ring; or wherein if R is H, then the resulting
hydroxyl group is further functionalized by acylation or reaction with a
boron compound;resulting in a lubricant composition wherein said
lubricant composition has a sulfated ash value of up to about 1.0, a
phosphorus content of up to about 0.08 percent by weight and a sulfur
content of up to about 0.4 percent by weight.

18. The composition of claim 1 wherein the alcohol or amine has about 8 to
about 30 carbon atoms.

19. The composition of claim 1 wherein the condensation product (b) is the
product of condensation with an alcohol.

20. The composition of claim 19 wherein the alcohol is a branched alcohol
of 6 to about 18 carbon atoms.

21. The composition of claim 19 wherein the alcohol is a linear alcohol of
6 to about 18 carbon atoms.

[0003]Fuel economy is of great importance, and lubricants which can foster
improved fuel economy by, for instance, reducing friction within an
engine, are of significant value. The present invention provides a low
sulfur, low ash, low phosphorous lubricant composition, including an
additive package, which leads to improved fuel economy in an internal
combustion engine. This improvement is effected by providing an additive
package in which the friction modifier component is exclusively or
predominantly a tartrimide or a tartramide or combinations thereof.

[0004]U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,022, Barrer, Dec. 2, 1980, discloses tartrimides
useful as additives in lubricants and fuels for effective reduction in
squeal and friction as well as improvement in fuel economy.

[0006]U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,972, Chamberlin, Apr. 27, 1982, discloses
lubricant compositions for improving fuel economy of internal combustion
engines. The composition includes a specific sulfurized composition
(based on an ester of a carboxylic acid) and a basic alkali metal
sulfonate. Additional ingredients may include at least one
oil-dispersible detergent or dispersant, a viscosity improving agent, and
a specific salt of a phosphorus acid.

[0009](b) a condensation product of a material represented by formula I
and an alcohol or amine having 1 to about 150 carbon atoms and
combinations thereof;

##STR00001##

[0010]wherein each R is independently H or a hydrocarbyl group, or wherein
the R groups together form a ring; and wherein if R is H, the
condensation product is optionally further functionalized by acylation or
reaction with a boron compound;

[0011]wherein said lubricant composition has a sulfated ash value of up to
about 1.0, a phosphorus content of up to about 0.08 percent by weight and
a sulfur content of up to about 0.4 percent by weight.

[0012]It further provides a method of lubricating an internal combustion
engine, comprising supplying the lubricant composition to the engine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013]Various preferred features and embodiments will be described below
by way of non-limiting illustration.

[0014]The present invention provides a composition as described above.
Often the composition has total sulfur content in one aspect below 0.4
percent by weight, in another aspect below 0.3 percent by weight, in yet
another aspect 0.2 percent by weight or less and in yet another aspect
0.1 percent by weight or less. Often the major source of sulfur in the
composition of the invention is derived from conventional diluent oil. A
typical range for the total sulfur content is 0.1 to 0.01 percent by
weight.

[0015]Often the composition has a total phosphorus content of less than or
equal to 800 ppm, in another aspect equal to or less than 500 ppm, in yet
another aspect equal to or less than 300 ppm, in yet another aspect equal
to or less than 200 ppm and in yet another aspect equal to or less than
100 ppm of the composition. A typical range for the total phosphorus
content is 500 to 100 ppm.

[0016]Often the composition has a total sulfated ash content as determined
by ASTM D-874 of below 1.0 percent by weight, in one aspect equal to or
less than 0.7 percent by weight, in yet another aspect equal to or less
than 0.4 percent by weight, in yet another aspect equal to or less than
0.3 percent by weight and in yet another aspect equal to or less than
0.05 percent by weight of the composition. A typical range for the total
sulfate ash content is 0.7 to 0.05 percent by weight.

Oil of Lubricating Viscosity

[0017]The low-sulfur, low-phosphorus, low-ash lubricating oil composition
is comprised of one or more base oils which are generally present in a
major amount (i.e. an amount greater than about 50 percent by weight).
Generally, the base oil is present in an amount greater than about 60
percent, or greater than about 70 percent, or greater than about 80
percent by weight of the lubricating oil composition. The base oil sulfur
content is typically less than 0.2 percent by weight.

[0018]The low-sulfur, low-phosphorus, low-ash lubricating oil composition
may have a viscosity of up to about 16.3 mm2/s at 100° C.,
and in one embodiment 5 to 16.3 mm2/s (cSt) at 100° C., and
in one embodiment 6 to 13 mm2/s (cSt) at 100° C. In one
embodiment, the lubricating oil composition has an SAE Viscosity Grade of
0W, 0W-20, 0W-30, 0W-40, 0W-50, 0W-60, 5W, 5W-20, 5W-30, 5W-40, 5W-50,
5W-60, 10W, 10W-20, 10W-30, 10W-40 or 10W-50.

[0019]The low-sulfur, low-phosphorus, low-ash lubricating oil composition
may have a high-temperature/high-shear viscosity at 150° C. as
measured by the procedure in ASTM D4683 of up to 4 mm2/s (cSt), and
in one embodiment up to 3.7 mm2/s (cSt), and in one embodiment 2 to
4 mm2/s (cSt), and in one embodiment 2.2 to 3.7 mm2/s (cSt),
and in one embodiment 2.7 to 3.5 mm2/s (cSt).

[0021]Alkylene oxide polymers and interpolymers and derivatives thereof
where the terminal hydroxyl groups have been modified by esterification,
etherification, etc., constitute another class of known synthetic
lubricating oils that can be used. These are exemplified by the oils
prepared through polymerization of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, the
alkyl and aryl ethers of these polyoxyalkylene polymers (e.g.,
methyl-polyisopropylene glycol ether having an average molecular weight
of about 1000, diphenyl ether of polyethylene glycol having a molecular
weight of about 500-1000, diethyl ether of polypropylene glycol having a
molecular weight of about 1000-1500, etc.) or mono- and polycarboxylic
esters thereof, for example, the acetic acid esters, mixed C3-8 fatty
acid esters, or the carboxylic acid diester of tetraethylene glycol.

[0023]Esters useful as synthetic oils also include those made from C5 to
C12 monocarboxylic acids and polyols and polyol ethers such as neopentyl
glycol, trimethylol propane, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol,
tripentaerythritol, etc.

[0024]The oil can be a poly-alpha-olefin (PAO). Typically, the PAOs are
derived from monomers having from 4 to 30, or from 4 to 20, or from 6 to
16 carbon atoms. Examples of useful PAOs include those derived from
octene, decene, mixtures thereof, and the like. These PAOs may have a
viscosity from 2 to 15, or from 3 to 12, or from 4 to 8 mm2/s (cSt),
at 100° C. Examples of useful PAOs include 4 mm2/s (cSt) at
100° C. poly-alpha-olefins, 6 mm2/s (cSt) at 100° C.
poly-alpha-olefins, and mixtures thereof. Mixtures of mineral oil with
one or more of the foregoing PAOs may be used.

[0025]Unrefined, refined and rerefined oils, either natural or synthetic
(as well as mixtures of two or more of any of these) of the type
disclosed hereinabove can be used in the lubricants of the present
invention. Unrefined oils are those obtained directly from a natural or
synthetic source without further purification treatment. For example, a
shale oil obtained directly from retorting operations, a petroleum oil
obtained directly from primary distillation or ester oil obtained
directly from an esterification process and used without further
treatment would be an unrefined oil. Refined oils are similar to the
unrefined oils except they have been further treated in one or more
purification steps to improve one or more properties. Many such
purification techniques are known to those skilled in the art such as
solvent extraction, secondary distillation, acid or base extraction,
filtration, percolation, etc. Rerefined oils are obtained by processes
similar to those used to obtain refined oils applied to refined oils
which have been already used in service. Such rerefined oils are also
known as reclaimed or reprocessed oils and often are additionally
processed by techniques directed to removal of spent additives and oil
breakdown products.

[0026]Additionally, oils prepared by a Fischer-Tropsch gas to liquid
synthetic procedure are known and can be used.

Friction Modifier

[0027]The tartrates, tartrimides, tartramides or combinations thereof of
the present invention can be prepared by the reaction of tartaric acid
and one or more alcohols or amines. The amines, for example, may have the
formula RR'NH wherein R and R' each independently represent H, a
hydrocarbon-based radical of 1 or 8 to 30 or to 150 carbon atoms, that
is, 1-150 or 8-30 or 1-30 or 8-150 atoms. Other amines may be be employed
within a range having a lower carbon number of 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, or 12
carbon atoms and an upper carbon number of 120, 80, 48, 24, 20, 18, or 16
carbon atoms. In one embodiment, each of the groups R and R' has 8 to 30
carbon atoms. In one embodiment, the sum of carbon atoms in R and R' is
at least 8. The substituent R and R' may also be --R''OR''' in which R''
is a divalent alkylene radical of 2 to 6 carbon atoms and R''' is a
hydrocarbyl radical of 5 to 150 or to 148 or to 146 or to 144 carbon
atoms.

[0028]Amines suitable for the present tartrimide, tartramides or
combinations thereof include those represented by the formula or RR'NH
wherein R and R' represent H or a hydrocarbyl radical of 1 to 150 carbon
atoms provided that, in certain embodiments, the sum of the carbon atoms
in R and R' is at least 8. In one embodiment R or R' contain 8 to 26
carbons and in another embodiment from 12 to 18 carbon atoms.

[0029]The tartrimides, tartramides or combinations thereof of the present
invention may be prepared conveniently by reacting tartaric acid or a
reactive equivalent of the tartaric acid (such as an ester, acid halide,
or anhydride) with one or more of the corresponding amines by a
well-known condensation process.

[0030]The alcohols useful for preparing the tartrates will similarly
contain 1 or 8 to 30 or to 150 carbon atoms, that is, 1-150 or 8-30 or
1-30 or 8-150 atoms. Other alcohols may be employed within a range having
a lower carbon number of 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, or 12 carbon atoms and an upper
carbon number of 120, 80, 48, 24, 20, 18, or 16 carbon atoms. In certain
embodiments the number of carbon atoms in the alcohol-derived group may
be 8-24 or 10-18 or 12 to 16, or 13. The alcohols employed may be linear
or branched, and, if branched, the branching may occur at any point in
the chain and the branching may be of any length.

[0031]It is believed that using alcohols of at least 6 carbon atoms will
lead to products having reduced volatility compared with those products
prepared from shorter chain alcohols. It is also believed that using
alcohols having at least one branch will promote solubility of the
product in oil. Accordingly, certain embodiments of the invention employ
the product prepared from branched alcohols of at least 6 carbon atoms,
for instance, branched C6-18 or C8-18 alcohols or branched
C12-16 alcohols, either as single materials or as mixtures. Such
branched alcohols may provide maximum solubility and compatibility in an
oil. Specific examples include 2-ethylhexanol and isotrideyl alcohol, the
latter of which may represent a commercial grade mixture of various
isomers. Also, certain embodiments of the invention employ the product
prepared from linear alcohols of at least 6 carbon atoms, for instance,
linear C6-18 or C8-18 alcohols or linear C12-16 alcohols,
either as single materials or as mixtures. Such linear alcohols my
provide optimal friction performance to an oil.

[0032]The tartrates of the present invention may be prepared conveniently
by reacting tartaric acid or a reactive equivalent of the tartaric acid
(such as an ester, acid halide, or anhydride) with one or more of the
corresponding alcohols by a well-known condensation process.

[0033]Likewise, the alkyl groups of the amines may similarly be linear or
branched.

[0034]The tartaric acid used for preparing the tartrates, tartrimides, or
tartramides of the invention can be the commercially available type
(obtained from Sargent Welch), and it is likely to exist in one or more
isomeric forms such as dtartaric acid, l-tartaric acid or mesotartaric
acid, often depending on the source (natural) or method of synthesis
(e.g. from maleic acid). These derivatives can also be prepared from
functional equivalents to the diacid readily apparent to those skilled
skilled in the art, such as esters, acid chlorides, anhydrides, etc.

[0035]The tartrates, tartrimides, tartramides or combinations thereof of
the present invention can be solids, semi-solids, or oils depending on
the particular alcohol or amine used in preparing the tartrate,
tartrimide, or tartramides. For use as additives in oleaginous
compositions including lubricating and fuel compositions the tartrates,
tartrimides, or tartramides are advantageously soluble and/or stably
dispersible in such oleaginous compositions. Thus, for example,
compositions intended for use in oils are typically oil-soluble and/or
stably dispersible in an oil in which they are to be used. The term
"oil-soluble" as used in this specification and appended claims does not
necessarily mean that all the compositions in question are miscible or
soluble in all proportions in all oils. Rather, it is intended to mean
that the composition is soluble in an oil (mineral, synthetic, etc.) in
which it is intended to function to an extent which permits the solution
to exhibit one or more of the desired properties. Similarly, it is not
necessary that such "solutions" be true solutions in the strict physical
or chemical sense. They may instead be micro-emulsions or colloidal
dispersions which, for the purpose of this invention, exhibit properties
sufficiently close to those of true solutions to be, for practical
purposes, interchangeable with them within the context of this invention.

[0036]As previously indicated, the tartrates, tartrimides, tartramides or
combinations thereof compositions of this invention are useful as
additives for lubricants, in which they may function as rust and
corrosion inhibitors, friction modifiers, antiwear agents and
demulsifiers. They can be employed in a variety of lubricants based on
diverse oils of lubricating viscosity, including natural and synthetic
lubricating oils and mixtures thereof. These lubricants include crankcase
lubricating oils for spark-ignited and compression-ignited internal
combustion engines, including automobile and truck engines, two-cycle
engines, aviation piston engines, marine and railroad diesel engines, and
the like. They can also be used in gas engines, stationary power engines
and turbines, and the like. Automatic transmission fluids, transaxle
lubricants, gear lubricants, metalworking lubricants, hydraulic fluids
and other lubricating oil and grease compositions can also benefit from
the incorporation therein of the compositions of the present invention.

[0037]Other friction modifiers maybe present in the lubricants of the
present invention and can include esters of polyols such as glycerol
monooleates; oleyl amides; diethanol fatty amines and mixtures thereof. A
useful list of friction modifiers is included in U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,410.

[0038]Esters of polyols include fatty acid esters of glycerol. These can
be prepared by a variety of methods well known in the art. Many of these
esters, such as glycerol monooleate and glycerol monotallowate, are
manufactured on a commercial scale. The esters useful for this invention
are oil-soluble and are preferably prepared from C8 to C22
fatty acids or mixtures thereof such as are found in natural products.
The fatty acid may be saturated or unsaturated. Certain compounds found
in acids from natural sources may include licanic acid which contains one
keto group. Useful C8 to C22 fatty acids are those of the
formula R--COOH wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl.

[0039]The fatty acid monoester of glycerol is useful. Mixtures of mono and
diesters may be used. Mixtures of mono- and diester can contain at least
about 40% of the monoester. Mixtures of mono- and diesters of glycerol
containing from about 40% to about 60% by weight of the monoester can be
used. For example, commercial glycerol monooleate containing a mixture of
from 45% to 55% by weight monoester and from 55% to 45% diester can be
used.

[0041]Although tartrates and esters of polyols such as glycerol monooleate
may appear to have superficially similar molecular structures, it is
observed that certain combinations of these materials may actually
provide better performance, e.g., in wear prevention, than either
material used alone.

[0042]Fatty acid amides have been discussed in detail in U.S. Pat. No.
4,280,916. Suitable amides are C8-C24 aliphatic monocarboxylic
amides and are well known. Reacting the fatty acid base compound with
ammonia produces the fatty amide. The fatty acids and amides derived
therefrom may be either saturated or unsaturated. Important fatty acids
include lauric C12, palmitic C16 and steric C18. Other
important unsaturated fatty acids include oleic, linoleic and linolenic
acids, all of which are C18. In one embodiment, the fatty amides of
the instant invention are those derived from the C18 unsaturated
fatty acids.

[0043]The fatty amines and the diethoxylated long chain amines such as
N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-tallowamine themselves are generally useful as
components of this invention. Both types of amines are commercially
available. Fatty amines and ethoxylated fatty amines are described in
greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,848

Miscellaneous

[0044]Antioxidants (that is, oxidation inhibitors), including hindered
phenolic antioxidants such as 2,6,-di-t-butylphenol, and hindered
phenolic esters such as the type represented by the following formula:

##STR00002##

and in a specific embodiment,

##STR00003##

wherein R3 is a straight chain or branched chain alkyl group
containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms, in one embodiment 2 to 4, and in another
embodiment 4 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, R3 is an n-butyl
group. In another embodiment R3 can be 8 carbons, as found in
Irganox L-135® from Ciba. The preparation of these antioxidants can be
found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,105.

[0046]The EP/antiwear agent used in connection with the present invention
is typically in the form of a zinc dialkyldithiophosphate. Although there
are an extremely large number of different types of antiwear agents which
might be utilized in connection with such functional fluids, the present
inventors have found that zinc dialkyldithiophosphate type antiwear
agents work particularly well in connection with the other components to
obtain the desired characteristics. In one embodiment, at least 50% of
the alkyl groups (derived from the alcohol) in the dialkyldithiophosphate
are secondary groups, that is, from secondary alcohols. In another
embodiment, at least 50% of the alkyl groups are derived from isopropyl
alcohol.

[0047]Ashless detergents and dispersants depending on their constitution
may upon combustion yield a non-volatile material such as boric oxide or
phosphorus pentoxide. However, ashless detergents and dispersants do not
ordinarily contain metal and therefore do not yield a metal-containing
ash on combustion. Many types of ashless dispersants are known in the
art. Such materials are commonly referred to as "ashless" even though
they may associate with a metal ion from another source in situ.

[0051]The polyamines from which the dispersant is derived include
principally alkylene amines conforming, for the most part, to the formula

##STR00004##

wherein t is an integer typically less than 10, A is hydrogen or a
hydrocarbyl group typically having up to 30 carbon atoms, and the
alkylene group is typically an alkylene group having less than 8 carbon
atoms. The alkylene amines include principally methylene amines, ethylene
amines, hexylene amines, heptylene amines, octylene amines, other
polymethylene amines. They are exemplified specifically by: ethylene
diamine, diethylene triamine, triethylene tetramine, propylene diamine,
decamethylene diamine, octamethylene diamine, di(heptamethylene)
triamine, tripropylene tetramine, tetraethylene pentamine, trimethylene
diamine, pentaethylene hexamine, di(-trimethylene) triamine. Higher
homologues such as are obtained by condensing two or more of the
above-illustrated alkylene amines likewise are useful. Tetraethylene
pentamines is particularly useful.

[0052]The ethylene amines, also referred to as polyethylene polyamines,
are especially useful. They are described in some detail under the
heading "Ethylene Amines" in Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Kirk
and Othmer, Vol. 5, pp. 898-905, Interscience Publishers, New York
(1950).

[0054]Higher homologues, such as are obtained by condensation of the
above-illustrated alkylene amines or hydroxy alkyl-substituted alkylene
amines through amino radicals or through hydroxy radicals, are likewise
useful. Condensed polyamines are formed by a condensation reaction
between at least one hydroxy compound with at least one polyamine
reactant containing at least one primary or secondary amino group and are
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,230,714 and 5,296,154 (Steckel).

[0055]Examples of these "carboxylic dispersants" are described in British
Patent 1,306,529 and in many U.S. patents including the following: U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3,219,666, 3,316,177, 3,340,281, 3,351,552, 3,381,022,
3,433,744, 3,444,170, 3,467,668, 3,501,405, 3,542,680, 3,576,743,
3,632,511, 4,234,435, 6,077,909 and 6,165,235.

[0056](2) Succinimide dispersants are a species of carboxylic dispersants.
They are the reaction product of a hydrocarbyl substituted succinic
acylating agent with an organic hydroxy compound or, an amine containing
at least one hydrogen attached to a nitrogen atom, or a mixture of said
hydroxy compound and amine. The term "succinic acylating agent" refers to
a hydrocarbon-substituted succinic acid or succinic acid-producing
compound (which term also encompasses the acid itself). Such materials
typically include hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acids, anhydrides,
esters (including half esters) and halides.

[0057]Succinic based dispersants have a wide variety of chemical
structures including typically structures such as

##STR00005##

[0058]In the above structure, each R1 is independently a hydrocarbyl
group, such as a polyolefin-derived group having an Mn of 500 or 700
to 10,000. Typically the hydrocarbyl group is an alkyl group, frequently
a polyisobutyl group with a molecular weight of 500 or 700 to 5000, or
alternatively 1500 or 2000 to 5000. Alternatively expressed, the R1
groups can contain 40 to 500 carbon atoms, for instance at least 50,
e.g., 50 to 300 carbon atoms, such as aliphatic carbon atoms. The R2
are alkylene groups, commonly ethylene (C2H4) groups. Such
molecules are commonly derived from reaction of an alkenyl acylating
agent with a polyamine, and a wide variety of linkages between the two
moieties is possible beside the simple imide structure shown above,
including a variety of amides and quaternary ammonium salts. Succinimide
dispersants are more fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,234,435,
3,172,892 and 6,165,235.

[0059]The polyalkenes from which the substituent groups are derived are
typically homopolymers and interpolymers of polymerizable olefin monomers
of 2 to 16 carbon atoms; usually 2 to 6 carbon atoms. The amines which
are reacted with the succinic acylating agents to form the carboxylic
dispersant composition can be monoamines or polyamines as described
above.

[0060]The succinimide dispersant is referred to as such since it normally
contains nitrogen largely in the form of imide functionality, although it
may be in the form of amine salts, amides, imidazolines as well as
mixtures thereof. To prepare the succinimide dispersant, one or more of
the succinic acid-producing compounds and one or more of the amines are
heated, typically with removal of water, optionally in the presence of a
normally liquid, substantially inert organic liquid solvent/diluent at an
elevated temperature, generally in the range of 80° C. up to the
decomposition point of the mixture or the product; typically 100°
C. to 300° C.

[0061]Additional details and examples of the procedures for preparing the
succinimide dispersants of the present invention are included in, for
example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,172,892, 3,219,666, 3,272,746, 4,234,435,
6,440,905 and 6,165,235.

[0062](3) "Amine dispersants" are reaction products of relatively high
molecular weight aliphatic halides and amines, preferably polyalkylene
polyamines. Examples thereof are described, for example, in the following
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,275,554, 3,438,757, 3,454,555, and 3,565,804.

[0063](4) "Mannich dispersants" are the reaction products of alkyl phenols
in which the alkyl group contains at least 30 carbon atoms with aldehydes
(especially formaldehyde) and amines (especially polyalkylene
polyamines). The materials described in the following U.S. patents are
illustrative: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,036,003, 3,236,770, 3,414,347, 3,448,047,
3,461,172, 3,539,633, 3,586,629, 3,591,598, 3,634,515, 3,725,480,
3,726,882, and 3,980,569.

[0065](6) Polymeric dispersants are interpolymers of oil-solubilizing
monomers such as decyl methacrylate, vinyl decyl ether and high molecular
weight olefins with monomers containing polar substituents, e.g.,
aminoalkyl acrylates or acrylamides and poly-(oxyethylene)-substituted
acrylates. Examples of polymer dispersants thereof are disclosed in the
following U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,329,658, 3449,250, 3,519,656, 3,666,730,
3,687,849, and 3,702,300.

[0066]The composition can also contain one or more detergents, which are
normally salts, and specifically overbased salts. Overbased salts, or
overbased materials, are single phase, homogeneous Newtonian systems
characterized by a metal content in excess of that which would be present
according to the stoichiometry of the metal and the particular acidic
organic compound reacted with the metal. The overbased materials are
prepared by reacting an acidic material (typically an inorganic acid or
lower carboxylic acid, preferably carbon dioxide) with a mixture
comprising an acidic organic compound, a reaction medium comprising at
least one inert, organic solvent (such as mineral oil, naphtha, toluene,
xylene) for said acidic organic material, a stoichiometric excess of a
metal base, and a promoter.

[0067]The acidic organic compounds useful in making the overbased
compositions of the present invention include carboxylic acids, sulfonic
acids, phosphorus-containing acids, phenols or mixtures thereof.
Preferably, the acidic organic compounds are carboxylic acids or sulfonic
acids with sulfonic or thiosulfonic groups (such as
hydrocarbyl-substituted benzenesulfonic acids), and
hydrocarbyl-substituted salicylic acids. Another type of compound useful
in making the overbased composition of the present invention is
salixarates. A description of the salixarates useful for of the present
invention can be found in publication WO 04/04850.

[0068]The metal compounds useful in making the overbased salts are
generally any Group 1 or Group 2 metal compounds (CAS version of the
Periodic Table of the Elements). The Group 1 metals of the metal compound
include Group 1a alkali metals (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium) as well
as Group 1b metals such as copper. The Group 1 metals are preferably
sodium, potassium, lithium and copper, preferably sodium or potassium,
and more preferably sodium. The Group 2 metals of the metal base include
the Group 2a alkaline earth metals (e.g., magnesium, calcium, strontium,
barium) as well as the Group 2b metals such as zinc or cadmium.
Preferably the Group 2 metals are magnesium, calcium, barium, or zinc,
preferably magnesium or calcium, more preferably calcium.

[0069]Examples of the overbased detergent of the present invention
include, but are not limited to calcium sulfonates, calcium phenates,
calcium salicylates, calcium salixarates and mixtures thereof.

[0070]The amount of the overbased material, that is, the detergent, if
present, is in one embodiment 0.05 to 3 percent by weight of the
composition, or 0.1 to 3 percent, or 0.1 to 1.5 percent, or 0.15 to 1.5
percent by weight.

[0071]Anti-foam agents used to reduce or prevent the formation of stable
foam include silicones or organic polymers. Examples of these and
additional anti-foam compositions are described in "Foam Control Agents",
by Henry T. Kerner (Noyes Data Corporation, 1976), pages 125-162.

[0072]The compositions of the present invention are employed in practice
as lubricants by supplying the lubricant to an internal combustion engine
(such as a stationary gas-powered internal combustion engine) in such a
way that during the course of operation of the engine the lubricant is
delivered to the critical parts of the engine, thereby lubricating the
engine.

[0073]As used herein, the term "hydrocarbyl substituent" or "hydrocarbyl
group" is used in its ordinary sense, which is well-known to those
skilled in the art. Specifically, it refers to a group having a carbon
atom directly attached to the remainder of the molecule and having
predominantly hydrocarbon character. Examples of hydrocarbyl groups
include: hydrocarbon substituents, that is, aliphatic (e.g., alkyl or
alkenyl), alicyclic (e.g., cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl) substituents, and
aromatic-, aliphatic-, and alicyclic-substituted aromatic substituents,
as well as cyclic substituents wherein the ring is completed through
another portion of the molecule (e.g., two substituents together form a
ring); substituted hydrocarbon substituents, that is, substituents
containing non-hydrocarbon groups which, in the context of this
invention, do not alter the predominantly hydrocarbon nature of the
substituent (e.g., halo (especially chloro and fluoro), hydroxy, alkoxy,
mercapto, alkylmercapto, nitro, nitroso, and sulfoxy); hetero
substituents, that is, substituents which, while having a predominantly
hydrocarbon character, in the context of this invention, contain other
than carbon in a ring or chain otherwise composed of carbon atoms.
Heteroatoms include sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, and encompass substituents
as pyridyl, furyl, thienyl and imidazolyl. In general, no more than two,
preferably no more than one, non-hydrocarbon substituent will be present
for every ten carbon atoms in the hydrocarbyl group; typically, there
will be no non-hydrocarbon substituents in the hydrocarbyl group.

[0074]It is known that some of the materials described above may interact
in the final formulation, so that the components of the final formulation
may be different from those that are initially added. For instance, metal
ions (of, e.g., a detergent) can migrate to other acidic or anionic sites
of other molecules. The products formed thereby, including the products
formed upon employing the composition of the present invention in its
intended use, may not be susceptible of easy description. Nevertheless,
all such modifications and reaction products are included within the
scope of the present invention; the present invention encompasses the
composition prepared by admixing the components described above.

EXAMPLES

[0075]The invention will be further illustrated by the following examples,
which set forth particularly advantageous embodiments. While the examples
are provided to illustrate the present invention, they are not intended
to limit it.

[0076]The lubricants are evaluated in the Sequence VIB fuel economy test
as defined by the ILSAC GF-4 specification for fuel economy and
durability.

[0077]The following formulations are prepared in an oil of lubricating
viscosity, where the amounts of the additive components are in percent by
weight, including conventional diluent oil.

[0080]The 4 Ball Low PS procedure utilizes the same test conditions as
ASTM D4172 with the addition of cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) as a lubricant
prestress. The basic operation of the four ball wear test can be
described as three stationary 0.5 diameter steel ball bearings locked in
a triangle pattern. A fourth steel ball bearing is loaded against and
rotated against the three stationary balls. The wear scar is measured on
each of the three stationary balls using a microscope and averaged to
determine the average wear scar diameter in millimeters.

[0081]The HFRR 1% CHP test is used to evaluated the friction and wear
performance of lubricants containing reduced levels of phosphorous and
sulfur. The wear scar diameter and percent film thickness by using a
reciprocating steel ball bearing which slides against a flat steel plate
is measured. This test is run using 1% cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) in
conjunction with the High Frequency Reciprocating Wear Rig, which is a
commercially available piece of tribology test equipment.

[0082]The Cameron-Plint High Temperature Reciprocating Wear test is used
to evaluate the friction and wear performance of lubricants. The wear
scar diameter and percent film thickness are obtained by using a
reciprocating steel ball bearing which slides against a flat steel plate
is measure. This test is run using the Cameron-Plint Reciprocating Wear
Rig, which is a commercially available piece of tribology test equipment.

[0084]To the above formulation are added the components, as found in the
following table and run in the 4 Ball Low PS test, the High Frequency
Reciprocating Rig 1% Cumene Hydroperoxide test and the Cameron-Plint High
Temperature Reciprocating Wear test. The results are found in the table
below.

[0085]The results show that formulations using tartaric acid derived
compounds of the present invention in a low sulfur, ash and phosphorous
lubricant (Ex. 5-10) reduce wear compared to low SAPS formulation with
0.05 percent by weight of phosphorus delivered to the composition (C4),
which do not contain tartaric acid derived compounds. They further
provide equivalent wear protection compared to conventional GF-3
formulations (C3), which has higher phosphorous.

[0086]Each of the documents referred to above is incorporated herein by
reference. Except in the Examples, or where otherwise explicitly
indicated, all numerical quantities in this description specifying
amounts of materials, reaction conditions, molecular weights, number of
carbon atoms, and the like, are to be understood as modified by the word
"about." Unless otherwise indicated, each chemical or composition
referred to herein should be interpreted as being a commercial grade
material which may contain the isomers, by-products, derivatives, and
other such materials which are normally understood to be present in the
commercial grade. However, the amount of each chemical component is
presented exclusive of any solvent or diluent oil, which may be
customarily present in the commercial material, unless otherwise
indicated. It is to be understood that the upper and lower amount, range,
and ratio limits set forth herein may be independently combined.
Similarly, the ranges and amounts for each element of the invention can
be used together with ranges or amounts for any of the other elements. As
used herein, the expression "consisting essentially of" permits the
inclusion of substances that do not materially affect the basic and novel
characteristics of the composition under consideration.

Patent applications by Daniel E. Barrer, Richmond Heights, OH US

Patent applications by Jason R. Brown, Chester GB

Patent applications by Jody Kocsis, Chagrin Falls, OH US

Patent applications by Jonathan S. Vilardo, Chardon, OH US

Patent applications by Patrick E. Mosier, Bay Village, OH US

Patent applications by Richard J. Vickerman, Stow, OH US

Patent applications by Th Lubrizol Corporation

Patent applications in class Plural oxygens double bonded directly to ring carbons of the hetero ring which are adjacent to the ring nitrogen

Patent applications in all subclasses Plural oxygens double bonded directly to ring carbons of the hetero ring which are adjacent to the ring nitrogen